Presented by Leo Samama.
Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) – String Quartet No. 6, in G major, opus 101 (1956)
Allegretto, 2. Moderato con moto, 3. Lento, 4. Lento-Allegro
Performers: Quatuor Danel
CD: Alpha Classics
Mieczyslaw Weinberg (1919-1996) – String Quartet No. 7, in C major, opus 59 (1957)
Adagio, 2. Allegretto, 3. Adagio – Allegro – Adagio
Performers: Quatuor Danel
CD: CPO
Shostakovich and Weinberg regularly visited each other, whether accompanied by their wives or not and then played four-handed piano. They encouraged each other reciprocally, even playing contests at certain times as to who would be the first to complete his next quartet. Thus in 1956, Shostakovich came out with his Sixth String Quartet, in G gr.t., opus 101, and Weinberg responded, shortly after that, with his Seventh String Quartet, in C gr.t., opus 59. In Shostakovich’s sixth quartet, Haydn seems a possible example, as for his very first quartet. With his dramatic seventh quartet, Weinberg picked up where he left off after nine years, perhaps prompted by his friend. The work was immediately recognised as a masterpiece.
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